TPS Aviation

What TPS Aviation does

TPS Aviation, Inc. is a privately held, Hayward, California-based worldwide distributor of commercial and military aerospace parts founded in the early 1960s. The company stocks 120,000+ fully-certified SKUs of aerospace fasteners, hardware, electronic components, and electro-mechanical parts at its on-site facilities, and delivers over one million parts annually to customers in 46+ countries and 43 US states. Its authorized distribution relationships cover more than 20 major aerospace OEMs and prime contractors, including LISI Aerospace, PCC Fasteners, Shur-Lok, Hi-Shear, Monogram, Allfast, Amphenol, TE Connectivity, and Bristol, with named end customers spanning Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, BAE Systems, Sikorsky, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Ministries of Defense of Japan and Canada.

The company's core technology stack centers on a proprietary TPS Kitting Tracking Software with barcoded parts management, a Total Quality Management program certified to ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D, designated source inspection authority at Boeing Mesa, Bombardier, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nabtesco, and Sikorsky, and an inspection lab equipped with Keyence measurement systems, optical comparators, RW Hardness testers, Dino Cam, System 23, and ESD/anti-static workstations. TPS also operates IATA-approved dangerous goods handling across all classes, including explosives and radioactive materials, and holds DSS Qualified Facility, ITAR, Boeing D6-82479, and DLA Approved Supplier credentials.

TPS generates revenue through three streams: one-time sale of fully-certified parts from on-site inventory; recurring kitting and custom-kit programs (including 300+ Phalanx CIWS overhaul kits in 15 configurations supplied to Raytheon); and Foreign Military Sales / managed logistics services for U.S. and allied defense agencies. Go-to-market is sales-led and RFQ-based, with same-day quotes during business hours via phone, email, and an online form supporting up to 10 line items. Pricing is opaque and quote-based, reflecting the custom, certification-driven nature of each order. Customer concentration is tilted to large defense primes and government agencies, with the remaining mix spread across commercial aerospace OEMs, MROs, and business/general aviation.

Name

TPS Aviation

Legal name

TPS Aviation, Inc.

Website

https://tpsaviation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

TPS Aviation is a privately held, Hayward, California-based worldwide distributor of commercial and military aerospace parts — fasteners, hardware, and electronic components — stocking 120,000+ certified SKUs and serving Tier-1 OEMs, defense primes, and government agencies in 46+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hayward

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Aerospace Parts Distribution: TPS Aviation generates revenue through the distribution of commercial and military-specific aerospace parts including fasteners, hardware, electronic components, and specialized aviation parts. Revenue comes from the sale of ready-to-ship fully-certified parts from extensive on-site stock inventory.
2. Kitting Services: Value-added kitting services where TPS supplies custom kits containing military standard hardware fasteners, electronic components, electro-mechanical parts, and hydraulic components. Kits are delivered on scheduled programs supporting maintenance requirements.
3. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Freight Forwarding: International freight forwarding services for defense agencies including arrangement of ocean and air freight, inland transportation, warehousing, packing and crating, and logistics coordination for US and foreign defense programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TPS Aviation is a worldwide distributor of commercial and military-specific aerospace parts, supplying over 120,000 fully-certified in-stock SKUs (fasteners, hardware, electronic components). The company offers value-added services including custom kitting for maintenance programs, IATA-approved logistics with dangerous goods handling, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) freight forwarding for U.S. and allied defense agencies. It is an authorized distributor and stocking distributor for major aerospace OEMs including Boeing, LISI Aerospace, PCC Fasteners, and Shur-Lok.

Product overview

TPS Aviation is a worldwide distributor of commercial and military-specific aerospace parts offering both Hardware Product Lines (aerospace fasteners and hardware) and Electronic Product Lines (electronic components and parts). These core product categories are supported by value-added services including Kitting Services (custom kits for military and commercial programs), Logistics Services (IATA-approved hazardous material handling and freight forwarding), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs. An integrated Quality Assurance Program with ISO9100 and AS9100D certification underpins all product and service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hardware Product Lines Worldwide distribution of aerospace and defense certified fasteners and hardware, including aerospace bolts, screws, rivets, brackets, bushings, and structural components. TPS offers 3PL, 4PL, and IPV value-added services with millions of ready-to-ship, fully-certified factory-direct components for commercial and military aerospace customers.
• Electronic Product Lines Authorized distribution of electronic parts and components for the aerospace industry, including current-use items, end-of-life parts, obsolete and superseded parts. TPS offers 'lifetime buys' for last production items including radar systems, with certification, test reports, and ESD packaging.
• Kitting Services Custom kit supply on scheduled delivery programs supporting maintenance requirements. Kit contents include military standard hardware fasteners, electronic components, electro-mechanical parts, hydraulic components, and larger items such as structural components and wings. TPS has supplied Raytheon Missile Systems' Phalanx CIWS with over 300 overhaul kits in 15 configurations.
• Logistics Services Essential services and support ensuring shipments are accurate, on-schedule, defect-free, and delivered to customer requirements. Includes receiving, inspection, packaging, and inventory departments. TPS is IATA approved to handle dangerous materials, all classes of dangerous goods, explosives, and radioactive materials meeting UN qualified packaging standards.
• Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Over 30 years of international freight forwarding experience specializing in cargo arrangement for U.S. defense and Foreign Defense Agencies. Supports Canada's Department of National Defense and Japan's Ministry of Defense FMS programs. Services include MILSTRIP, dangerous goods transport compliance, material expediting, integrated logistics coordination, and full range of warehousing services.
• Quality Assurance Program Total Quality Management program with controlled processes for quoting, contract review, purchasing, receiving, inspection, processing, packaging, shipping, and inventory control. Includes designated source inspections for Boeing Mesa, Bombardier, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nabtesco, and Sikorsky using Keyence, optical comparator, RW Hardness, Dino Cam, System 23, ESD workstations, and anti-static work stations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.97% kitting accuracy and on-time delivery rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• LISI AerospacecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for LISI Aerospace, a major manufacturer of aerospace fasteners and components. LISI provides high-quality fastening solutions for commercial and military aerospace applications.
• PCC Fasteners / Air Industries CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for PCC Fasteners including Air Industries Company, SPS Jenkintown, SPS Santa Ana, and PB Fasteners. Boeing D1-4426 listed distributor status.
• Shur-LokcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Shur-Lok Corporation, a manufacturer of aerospace fasteners and specialty products for critical applications.
• Monogram AerospacecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Monogram Aerospace fasteners, providing comprehensive fastener solutions for aerospace applications.
• Allfast InccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Allfast Inc, a manufacturer of aerospace fasteners serving commercial and defense programs.
• Hi-Shear Technology CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Hi-Shear Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of aerospace structural fasteners and specialty products.
• BristolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Bristol aerospace fasteners and components.
• MS AerospacecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for MS Aerospace, a manufacturer of aerospace fasteners and components.
• Camtech CorpcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized stocking distributor for Camtech Corp electronic components used in aerospace applications.
• Esterline (TransDigm)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Esterline (Kirkhill) aerospace components, part of TransDigm Group.
• Glenair ElectricalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Glenair Electrical interconnect products used in aerospace and defense applications.
• TE ConnectivitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for TE Connectivity aerospace electronic components and interconnect products.
• AmphenolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Amphenol aerospace connectors and electronic interconnect products.
• SPS Tech JenkintowncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for SPS Tech Jenkintown, a PCC Fasteners company manufacturing aerospace fasteners.
• Pilgrim ScrewcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Pilgrim Screw aerospace fasteners and components.
• Saturn FastenerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Saturn Fasteners aerospace products.
• ClickbondcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an authorized distributor for Clickbond aerospace fasteners and structural bonding products.
• BoeingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is Boeing D1-4426 listed and authorized distributor for Boeing aircraft programs including commercial and defense applications.
• AirbuscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation supplies aerospace parts for Airbus programs including A320, A330, A340, A350, A380, and A220 series aircraft.
• Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPS Aviation is an approved supplier for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries aerospace manufacturing programs including regional aircraft and SpaceJet.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Aviall (Boeing subsidiary):
• Howmet Aerospace: Howmet (formerly Arconic/Alcoa) is a leading aerospace fastener and components manufacturer. While primarily a manufacturer, it competes with TPS's supplier base and is part of the same fastener/hardware value chain that TPS distributes into.
• LISI Aerospace: LISI is a major aerospace fastener manufacturer and a current authorized-supplying partner of TPS. As an upstream supplier, it is both a partner and adjacent incumbent in the same aerospace fastener distribution value chain.
• TransDigm Group: TransDigm designs and distributes proprietary aerospace components and is also a TPS supplier (Esterline/Kirkhill). It is a broad incumbent in aerospace parts distribution with a much larger and more diversified product portfolio than TPS.
• Satair (Airbus subsidiary): Satair is Airbus's in-house aerospace parts and components distribution arm, serving Airbus programs directly. It is the OEM-owned counterpart on the Airbus side to Boeing's Aviall and competes head-to-head with TPS for Airbus aftermarket and OEM parts distribution.

Direct peers

• AAR Corp: AAR Corp is a leading independent aerospace parts distribution and MRO services provider serving commercial and government customers globally. It directly competes with TPS in fasteners, hardware, and electronic components distribution, with a similar value-added kitting and logistics offering.
• HEICO Corporation: HEICO operates aerospace parts distribution and PMA manufacturing businesses serving both commercial and defense markets. Its distribution and parts replacement business directly overlaps with TPS's aerospace parts and electronic components distribution model.
• Wesco Aircraft Holdings: Wesco (formerly KLX) was the largest independent aerospace fasteners, hardware, and electronic components distributor serving Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and other TPS customer types. Despite recent ownership changes, it remains the most directly comparable scaled distribution peer to TPS.
• Pattonair (now part of Dover): Pattonair is a global aerospace fastener and hardware distributor serving Airbus, Boeing, and major defense OEMs. It is one of the closest direct competitors to TPS in distribution of aerospace fasteners and consumables, with comparable authorized distributor relationships.

Emerging players

• Green Aerospace: Green Aerospace is a smaller aerospace fastener and hardware distributor serving OEM and MRO customers. As a regional/smaller-scale competitor, it overlaps with TPS in product category and customer type but lacks the breadth of certifications, OEM authorizations, and FMS capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tps-aviation-inc.

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TPS Aviation